Research Guidelines Aimed at Preventing the COVID-19 Outbreaks Within the National Institute for Natural Sciences (NIBB, NIPS, IMS, and EXCELLS)
Level

Stage

０

No Restrictions

0.512Partial Restrictions

Minimum Range
Restrictions

Medium Range
Restrictions

General Research Activities

Joint Research

Research Activities Involving Face to Face Gatherings
Involving Multiple People

It is recommended to hold meetings online. If it is unavoidable toMeetings Within the Institute

It is recommended to hold meetings online. If it is unavoidable

Research activities can be conducted while you paying

Research activities can be conducted while you payingmost careful attention to prevent the spread of COVID-19

most careful attention to prevent the spread of COVID-19

infection. If possible, working from home is recommended.

infection. If possible, working from home is recommended.

Research activities can be conducted. However, you need

Research activities can be conducted while you paying

Non-essential or non-urgent gatherings will be prohibited.

The frequency and number of meetings held should be reduced

to take special care to prevent the spread of infection whenmost careful attention to prevent the spread of COVID-19

It is recommended to hold gatherings online.

to the bare minimum, and moved to an online format if

doing research activities.

infection. However, except for online research activities, weIn addition, it is necessary to consider reducing the time

may stop accepting joint researchers from universities andspent in the laboratory by employees in the researchother research institutes located in areas where thedepartment, and working from home if possible.

infection has spread or is spreading.

Only the minimum number of staff members required to

Joint research can be continued only if it pertains toFace to face gatherings will be prohibited. All gatherings will

The number of meetings to be held should be reduced to a barecontinue ongoing research activities will be allowed toongoing experiments/research. In addition, it is necessaryneed to be conducted online.

minimum, and conducted exclusively online.

enter the laboratory. This judgment is made by the head ofto obtain permission from the relevant PI.

the laboratory or facility (PI). Staff members who enter

However, the system of joint research will be based on thethe laboratory reduce the time spent in the laboratory, andguidelines provided on the left.

hold face-to-face gatherings, pay close attention to prevent thespread of COVID-19 infection. Holding a social gathering is notpermitted.

to hold face-to-face meetings, pay clsoe attention to prevent thespread of COVID-19 infection.

possible.

other staff members work from home.

Entry into laboratories or facilities will be prohibited in

Joint research will be stopped.

Face to face gatherings will be prohibited. All gatherings will

The number of meetings to be held should be reduced to a bare

all cases except those listed below.

However, this will not apply to joint research conducted

need to be conducted online.

minimum, and conducted exclusively online.

To enter laboratories or facilities, it is necessary to obtain

online.

permission from the director (or the Director of the.

Research Center for Life Creation) via the PI.

1)
3

Staff members engaged in ongoing research

Maximum Range

conducted over a long period of time or research

Restrictions

which will take considerable damage should it bestopped.
2)

Staff members involved in suspending or stopping
ongoing tasks.

3)

Staff members tasked with intermittent work suchas those upkeeping research materials (i.e. tending
to animals, replenishment of liquid nitrogen,refrigeration repair) or server maintenance.

4In Principle Cessation ofAll Institute Activities

Only staff members tasked with intermittent work such as

Joint research will be stopped.

Face to face gatherings will be prohibited. All gatherings will

The number of meetings to be held should be reduced to a barethose involved in research material upkeep (i.e. tending toHowever, this will not apply to joint research conducted

need to be conducted online.

minimum, and conducted exclusively online.

animals, replenishing of liquid nitrogen, refrigeration

online.

repair) or server maintenance can enter laboratories toperform these tasks.
This can be performed upon permission being attained
from the institute’s director general (or the EXCELLS
director general) for the minimum maintenance oflaboratories.

○The level transition will be decided at a meeting of the heads of the three Okazaki institutes.
〇Research activities that fall under level 2, 3 and 4 restrictions but can be conducted in an online will not have restrictions applied to them.
〇People who have returned to Japan or entered Japan from abroad will be permitted to enter the Institutes after completing quarantine procedures and following the instructions given at the time of entry into Japan.

Notes